Thread: Batam
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10-19-18 15:09 #1313
Posts: 2510Polis Razia
Yesterday I had the pleasure to experience de visu the Indonesian Police in action.
Just 30 minutes after I entered Foreplay in Kampung Bule, and I just started sipping a glass of orange juice with a drop of vodka, a huge anti-narcotics Police task force entered the premises to do drug tests and check people.
Of course, this is not Texas and policemen are not like in USA. So, instead of putting everyone against the wall with hands raised, pointing automatic rifles against the chest of the slower ones, everything was much smoother. No cowboys, neither emulators of Joseph Arpaio here, but just Indonesian-style smiles. You know, the same face you get regardless you are complaining for something or giving kudos for service in a hotel.
The main Officer stepped on the stage, stopped the band, and asked kindly to switch on lights ("lampu, lampu tolong"). I did not notice that before then, but about 20 policemen with and without uniform had already entered the room and were filling up all sides.
Then, other policemen armed with professional photocameras and cellphones started to videorecord all the procedure and to take photos of the people.
I guess today my face with all others must be posted on local newspapers and must have been already broadcasted on local TV News, as an evidence of how seriously Batam Police fights drugs here*.
A girl next to me was scared as hell, fearing her face was going to be seen by her parents at home.
(*I don't think they have ever sold drugs in Foreplay, but as a matter of fact every time I enter P3 or P2 I am literally pestered by a few thugs who stand in front of me expecting I buy obat. I am sorry to disappoint them. Their business seems ok even without me, however, at least judging by the number of people shaking heads with eyes closed.).
Everything took less than 30 minutes, and I am not kidding it was done in an extremely professional way (I hope they will not post faces on TV news. I don't care, but others may). Female Officers searched the bags of some random girls. Other people was asked to peeee (will this pass this damn ISG censorship?) in test bottles, I think, because in front of all videocameras like playing a movie scene the officers started to check with a chemical test set some liquids in 4 small plastic glasses.
Everything, everything done with smiles and very kind attitude by all police officers. This is Indonesia, not USA, so instead of fearing a shot in my chest, should I do anything unexpected, I had the feeling that they were going to offer flowers to ladies and other gifts to guys once finished.
Regrettably, no flowers for me or the ladies. Just a big "thank you" to everyone for the collaboration, smiles at 360, and even an applause to our beloved police when they left the room.
Then, business as usual. Music restarted and sexy dancers jumped on stage.
I love Indonesia. Did I say that already?
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10-19-18 07:32 #1312
Posts: 1575Originally Posted by BlackPage [View Original Post]
Now that you mention pre-registered SIM cards, it just makes things easier I guess.
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10-18-18 15:59 #1311
Posts: 2510Originally Posted by Blanquiceleste [View Original Post]
I don't understand what you mean with "questionable" and "discrete". What is not discrete in buying a SIM card in Batam, and register it or not? I am perplexed.
By the way, your passport is stamped every time you cross the border. So, if you want to keep your travels to Batam hidden to your most significant one, having a Simpati card in the wallet is the least and last of your problems.
Finally, last time I was in Singapore for a week I bought a Starhub card. Once I activated it for roaming, I discovered I had only 2 GB (enough in most cases, but less than the 6 GB I have on the Simpati card), and most important it did not work anymore once I returned to Singapore. It seemed a one-way step.
My advice is to simply spend those Rp 120k (12 SGD, or 8 USD), buy a pre-registered Simpati card including 6 GB of data on 4G LTE, and enjoy 20 Mbps without hassle.
What you mean with " instead of going through all this"? In my last paragraph "The Good News", I explained that it's now easy to buy a preregistered card on arrival in Harbour Bay and forget all hassle.
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10-18-18 14:32 #1310
Posts: 1575Originally Posted by BlackPage [View Original Post]
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10-18-18 11:56 #1309
Posts: 2510SIM cards
An update for all those who plan to come to Batam and need a SIM card.
The lengthy procedure for registering SIM cards In Indonesia, mandatory for using them without any grace period, is still in place (see my previous posts for details). When you buy a new SIM card, you MUST register it, providing your Indonesian ID number or Passport number if you are foreigner, or the SIM card cannot be activated. I asked several people in various shops, and all confirmed me the same.
In the next lines, I will focus on Simpati cards, as they are the most widely used and maybe also the best performing.
1) Those who have an Indo ID (NIK, NOKK) can register sending a message: "UNTUK REGISTRASI SILAHKAN KETIK *444*NIK*NOKK#".
An employee at the TelKomSel Service Center told me that this can done also by a foreigner, sending the passport number instead of the NIK, but I doubt it may work. Should it really work, it would mean that the system accepts a registration giving any random number, as I doubt the system can check the existance and regularity of a passport number of foreign countries.
I did not try this simple way, and later I will explain why.
2) Those foreigners who do not have an Indo ID can register ONLY going to a Grapari Service Center of TelKomSel Customer Care. There is one at Nagoya Hill, another one at Penuin, at Batam Center, etc.
Assuming the *444* message cannot work with a foreign country passport, there is no other service center other than Grapari which can register the card under a foreign passport number. The shops cannot, even the big ones, not to say the small kiosks.
This is pissing off enough, and that is the same situation I reported in May 2018, but there's a good news now. The INDONESIA BOLEH Task Force has developed suitable antibodies.
The Good News
Many small shops are now selling pre-registered SIM cards. All such shops include all those small counters recently opened at the Harbour Bay arrival lounge, which you see right after the immigration and security screening, and a few ones at Lucky Plaza.
I tried to understand what are those pre-registered SIM cards, and under what name are they registered, but I received only Indonesian-style smiles back. Someone tried to say "It's TelkomSel which preregister cards", but of course it could not be exactly that, as the reason of imposing registration was to associate each card to a precise physical person, for security purposes. I think someone is pre-registering cards using random NIK-NOKK numbers.
This is a BIG RELIEF for all those like me, who visit Indonesia for few days, and would be not really happy to have to spend 1-2 hours, after buying the SIM card, to reach a Grapari point and queue just for this burocratic requirement.
At Harbour Bay Arrival right after Immigration, I chose the counter with the nicest smiling girl (a business criterion as others).
I found the pre-registered Simpati cards for 4G LTE data access sold for 150k (9 GB one month) or 120k (6 GB). I bought the second, without inquiring other shops to find a better offer because I was in hurry. Being in hurry made me probably miss the best deal, but I really had no time to spend to save 20k
Also SIM cards of other operators are on sale, cheaper down up to 50k for 3G access, but I preferred to opt for the best. I tried the speed transfer and I achieved 20 Mb/s via my mobile wifi router.
A signage on top of the glass showcase of another counter advertises cards with 3GB data for Rp 80k (I don't remember what Operator).
The shop at Harbour Bay was not sellng cheaper SIM cards for phone calls. I went to Lucky Plaza, where after few inquiries I found a shop selling pre-registered Simpati cards for phone calls (the "pre-registered" feature is the key feature and is not offered everywhere). I could choose between cards costing 75k including 10k of balance, but not pre-registered, and pre-registered cards costing 75k but with 0 balance. I bought this one and I added 20k balance (plus 2k service charge, total 97k).
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09-25-18 11:42 #1308
Posts: 2510Originally Posted by BlackPage [View Original Post]
Again, Delta Spa is expensive and questioned by some, but appreciated by others. I guess YMMV. I suggest to avoid.
Atalanta and Octopus have a good reputation instead. I went once to Octopus, and it was perfect but not what I seek in Batam: very good service by a very pretty young girl in a clean good room, but overall a very mechanical SOP.
Originally Posted by Black Page [View Original Post]
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09-24-18 11:28 #1307
Posts: 2510Originally Posted by BlackPage [View Original Post]
Please note that I have never been in any of those 3 places, except one time at Octopus, as that kind of places are not "my cup of tea" in Batam. If one seeks the "spa experience", should go somewhere else.
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09-21-18 21:38 #1306
Posts: 2510Good news
I have 3 good news. The first two are good just for me. The third for everyone interested to go to Batam.
1) I will be back on site in October. My mouth is watering already. Stay tuned.
2) My Formosa Membership Card is now Silver. Quite an achievement for someone who lives 10,000 km away! Ok, not the same as SPG Elite, but I feel proud. The good news is that I achieved my first free night with points. In October my bill will be lighter.
3) I heard a couple of people saying that now the SIM card registration at Grapari for foreigners is not necessary anymore, or was made simpler. I will find out once on site and report here, as always.
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09-06-18 15:12 #1305
Posts: 1575Originally Posted by BlackPage [View Original Post]
I get a sense that the board member is referring to common massage parlors, which sometimes call themselves spas. LOL.
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09-06-18 14:53 #1304
Posts: 2510Originally Posted by FlirtingWtGirl [View Original Post]
See my reports here for details about more opportunities besides a spa.
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09-06-18 03:31 #1303
Posts: 1074Originally Posted by FlirtingWtGirl [View Original Post]
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09-05-18 14:27 #1302
Posts: 3I don't see your point, anyway for the benefit of other members do you know any spa near BCS mall since you are familiar with it?
Originally Posted by BlackPage [View Original Post]
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09-04-18 10:34 #1301
Posts: 2510Originally Posted by FlirtingWtGirl [View Original Post]
As obvious, not only I know BCS Mall, but I have spent many full afternoons there hunting for ladies (first time 9 years ago). It's also in the middle of the area with cheap massage places. From the Height of your 2 posts, you are attempting to lecture the wrong person about Batam.
What I have never heard about is the places that you asked about (First Choice spa, MyIndoThai, Fame spa). And if I have never heard about them, there must be a reason. Either secret goldmines that nobody know, either nothing interesting for the average reader of ISG (If you don't like my answer to your question, I repeat this anyway for the benefit of other members who may go to Batam).
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09-03-18 14:50 #1300
Posts: 3Originally Posted by BlackPage [View Original Post]
If you never heard about it, yes you are right it tells us a lot.
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09-03-18 06:57 #1299
Posts: 1Contact Nr.
Hallo guys!
I am going to visit Batam next week. Please give me phone NR of a good car driver to hire.
Thank you all.